Match Reaction vs Stoke (home).

[AFC Leveller]

Not that City away is 3 points that should necessarily be expected in any form.....but it would be a shame to break up the momentum and feed good factor so soon with this next game. If we get one point and a decent performance I suppose we may still feel a bit better about things....

A draw would keep us 5th regardless of the other results (even if its just on goal difference).

we need to go on a long unbeaten run to build up momentum and a bit of space between us and the chasing pack. I truly believe that Saints, United, LIverpool and Tottenham are all good enough to finish top 4 this season.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wenger was saying it'll take 3 games before Ozil starts.

As for the game at the gypodrome, no chance at all we'll get anything from that. I can see us playing well enough, but something will somehow conspire to assure the loss, maybe terrible defensive lapses, a dodgy ref, an outrageous fluke. You all know how it goes in these games. Been saying for years that eventually we have to win one of these, but we never do.

[Marc Overmars]

I feel a little mixed up...... I enjoyed the fact we won and the how and the fact that suddenly, we have a few players back, but can we expect anything away to City?

If we actually play with a bit of purpose and most importantly take our chances we will get a result. City are not great and have been troubled by plenty of sides this season.

If we sit back, empty the midfield and just generally play like a team who cannot beat anyone decent, then of course we will see a routine defeat.

[Niall_Quinn]

FA won't be charging anyone over the assault on Debuchy. Except for Arteta, he gets a 3 game ban.

[Bumble]

Burnley drew there and Stoke won there so it is possible. However, if they score first we stand no chance.... as I don't really think we have any idea how to chase a game without conceding further. How times last season and this have we won after conceding first. the confidence of the team is just so fragile that a set back like that makes the team crumble. Especially away from home as I am sure had West Ham scored first we would have lost. But if we score first then I think the team will have something to keep hold of and the confidence gained from it.

[AFC Leveller]

Wenger was saying it'll take 3 games before Ozil starts.

As for the game at the gypodrome, no chance at all we'll get anything from that. I can see us playing well enough, but something will somehow conspire to assure the loss, maybe terrible defensive lapses, a dodgy ref, an outrageous fluke. You all know how it goes in these games. Been saying for years that eventually we have to win one of these, but we never do.

Yeah thats how its been over the last few years, there is always something to regret and we have to put it right.

They havent won a league game without Toure since April so i guess thats a good omen.

[AFC Leveller]

Burnley drew there and Stoke won there so it is possible. However, if they score first we stand no chance.... as I don't really think we have any idea how to chase a game without conceding further. How times last season and this have we won after conceding first. the confidence of the team is just so fragile that a set back like that makes the team crumble. Especially away from home as I am sure had West Ham scored first we would have lost. But if we score first then I think the team will have something to keep hold of and the confidence gained from it.

Lat season, City were formidable at home and scored so many goals. This season though is a different story, they havent blown anybody apart and struggled against Sunderland, Palace, Burnley etc so we have to put in a decent performance.

[Globalgunner]

Quite disheartening how fragile our mentality is. It doesn't even matter whether we are at home or away. Same with the United match at home. If we concede 1st we will likely concede again and again. Only silver lining is that once we concede 3. The opposition start to play more loose and then we usually get to score 1 or maybe 2, but hardly ever equalise. Doubt if Wenger ever dwells on these. Its always the defenders fault in these circumstances.

[AFC Leveller]

Quite disheartening how fragile our mentality is. It doesn't even matter whether we are at home or away. Same with the United match at home. If we concede 1st we will likely concede again and again. Only silver lining is that once we concede 3. The opposition start to play more loose and then we usually get to score 1 or maybe 2, but hardly ever equalise. Doubt if Wenger ever dwells on these. Its always the defenders fault in these circumstances.

The problem with conceding first is that you have to then chasde the game and are suscetible to the counter attack. Against Man ure, we completly abandoned our game plan and chased after them with 11 men and were eventualy caught. City have the firepower and dscipline to win this so we really cant afford any cock ups.